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Economy and Transport Minister Edwina Hart has blamed "poor driver behaviour" for the length of the queues on the A55 at Penmaenmawr two weeks ago. In a written statement to Assembly Members, she says the Welsh Government had tried to reduce delays caused by improvement work in the tunnels through the Penmaenbach headland.

I ... appreciate that the works have caused some frustration for road users. Unfortunately, delays were longer than normal the week before last, and poor driver behaviour impacted on our efforts to minimise queuing.

We are unable to re-open the westbound tunnel fully each day as this would extend the overall programme considerably, result in greater health and safety risks and significantly increase scheme costs. However, we did remove the eastbound traffic management during the day on the weekend to minimise delays. Signs have also now been put in place in an attempt to discourage vehicles using Sychnant Pass.

– Economy and Transport Minister Edwina Hart AM

Mrs Hart added that the contractors "are working 24/7" to complete the scheme before Christmas and that the Welsh Government aimed to have no restrictions on the A55 between Easter and September 2016. She expected that planned work on the Conwy and Pen y Clip tunnels in February and March would cause significantly fewer problems than the Penmaenbach scheme.

The Minister also pointed out that £42 million was being spent on the A55 in order to improve the safety and resilience of the key route across north Wales.

Economy Minister Edwina Hart has now issued a statement confirming that she's stepping down as an AM at next year's Assembly election.

It has been an honour and a privilege to serve the people of Gower, the constituency in which I was born, for the last 16 years. Since I was first elected to the Assembly in 1999, I am pleased that I have been able to champion the cause of so many local organisations, and work with so many constituents. I am very grateful for the support they have given me during this time, and I will continue to represent their views vigorously until the end of the Assembly term next year.

– Economy minister Edwina Hart AM

Together with Finance Minister Jane Hutt, Edwina Hart is one of just two AMs to have been in the Welsh Cabinet since it was first formed under Alun Michael in 1999. She contested the Welsh Labour leadership when Rhodri Morgan stood down as First Minister but was defeated by Carwyn Jones.

Edwina has brought a wealth of experience to Government. Under her guidance the Economy, Transport and Science portfolio has just presented the best ever inward investment figures for Wales – a tribute to her determination and energy in going out to sell Wales around the world. The fact that Edwina was able to command respect in portfolios as diverse as health, EST, Social Justice and Finance demonstrates her political abilities and attention to detail.

– First Minister Carwyn Jones AM

Two of Edwina Hart's constituency neighbours have also announced today that they're standing down. Gwenda Thomas also confirmed her decision to her local party in Neath this evening, with Keith Davies earlier making his announcement in Llanelli.

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One of the two Assembly members to have served in every Welsh cabinet since the first election in 1999 is expected to announce tonight that she won't stand again next year. Economy and Transport Minister Edwina Hart is understood to be making the announcement to her Gower constituency party this evening.

The former Deputy Health Minister Gwenda Thomas is also due to tell her local party in Neath tonight that she too won't be seeking re-election. They join Keith Davies who announced earlier today that he will be quitting Llanelli after just one term as an AM.

So three Labour AMs in neighbouring seats are all leaving the Assembly next year. But it's Edwina Hart's decision that will command the most attention. One of the most powerful figures in the Welsh Government, responsible over the years for finance, health and now the economy, she'd been tipped as a possible successor to Dame Rosemary Butler as the Assembly's Presiding Officer.

The Labour party encourages its AMs and MPs not to leave it so late to declare their intentions and another five have already done so. Last minute announcements are by no means unusual but by delaying her decision Edwina Hart has left herself open to suggestions that she fears the loss of Gower to the Conservatives, who won the Westminster seat for the first time at the General Election last month.

Economy minister Edwina Hart has told AMs that every route was explored to save the Merco refinery in Milford Haven, where a sale expected to save the 400 hundred jobs there has now fallen through.

Right up to the line we were trying to explore if there was any more we could do. I haven't given up hope about potential buyers, I have asked my officials to pursue that vigourously. I won't give any false hopes but I know that I have the support of the UK government as well.

This is a sad day for Pembrokeshire and for the Welsh economy.

– Economy Minister Edwina Hart AM

The minister added that she was really worried about the effect on businesses in the refinery's supply chain. She promised additional support with a physical presence in Milford Haven by Welsh Government officials offering help.

Economy Minister Edwina Hart has told AMs that there was no realistic alternative to building a complete new motorway south of Newport. In particular she rejected the idea that upgrading the existing Southern Distributor Road would do the job.

The Minister set out a timetable for the construction of the new road.

Public Inquiry in winter 2016

Start work in spring 2018

Open new motorway autumn 2021

The Souther Distributor Road would not provide a long term solution, even in combination with public transport measures. I'd have to look at closing existing junctions on the SDR and the work would be more disruptive than a new motorway.

A new innovation strategy aimed at promoting more flexibility in business and the public sector has been unveiled by the Welsh Government.

Innovation Wales says the public sector needs to be "less prescriptive and more open to fresh solutions."

It adopts a focused approach with a single overriding principle - that while we can promote, encourage and enable innovation across the economy, our key investments should be made on the basis of clear strategic priorities, building on Wales' strengths

We need to recognise these strengths and exploit them more. This means developing distinct and genuine areas of excellence identified in Science for Wales as: Life Sciences and Health, Low Carbon Energy and Environment, Advanced Engineering and Materials, ICT and the Digital Economy.

The public sector can help create the right conditions for innovation to flourish but it is our people, our academics and our businesses that will be the agents for real change.

– Edwina Hart, Economy Minister

The strategy recommends that businesses in Wales concentrate efforts on five main themes:

Work on the completing the ring road round Cardiff -the A4232- will start before the next Assembly election in 2016, the Economy and Transport Minister has pledged. The western half of the road was built in the 1980s and 1990s but there's been no further progress since devolution in 1999.

That's despite the road currently stopping in Cardiff Bay, less than a mile from the Senedd. Edwina Hart says she will now 'progress' the missing Eastern Bay Link. She says the project is connected to the promised deal with the UK Government on a new M4 south of Newport.

Progress in discussions with the UK Government on financing options is also opening up opportunities that we have not been able to consider up to now. I intend to progress the Eastern Bay Link in Cardiff and an upgrade to Junction 28 on the M4. These projects are an important element in improving access to the Central Cardiff Enterprise Zone. To improve access to the St Athan - Cardiff Airport Enterprise Zone, I will fund improvements to Five Mile Lane.

– Economy and Transport Minister Edwina Hart AM

The Five Mile Lane improvements -between Barry and the A48- raise the prospect of another half built route for M4 traffic. The Minister also stressed that work on dualling the Heads of the Valleys Road will continue. Work will also start on several smaller road schemes during the next two years.